Chuck with quick change

ABSTRACT

A chuck includes a generally cylindrical body and a plurality of jaws reciprocally disposed in the body in communication with a central bore in the body. A first detent extends radially into the central bore and is releasable in a radially outward direction. Upon insertion of an elongated tool shaft having a polygonal cross section into the bore so that a groove in the tool shaft is aligned with the first detent, the first detent engages the groove and axially retains the tool shaft. Upon movement of the jaws so that the jaw faces engage flat sides of the tool shaft, the jaws rotationally retain the tool shaft.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a continuation of, and claims priority to,U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/403,928, filed Mar. 31, 2003, whichis a continuation of, and claims priority to U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 09/852,936, filed May 10, 2001, which claims priority U.S.Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/203,713, filed May 12, 2000,which are incorporated by reference herein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to chucks for use with drills orwith electric or pneumatic power drivers. More particularly, the presentinvention relates to a chuck of the keyless type which may be tightenedor loosened by hand or by actuation of the driver motor.

Both hand and electric or pneumatic tool drivers are well known.Although twist drills are the most common tools used with such drivers,the tools may also comprise screw drivers, nut drivers, burrs, mountedgrinding stones, and other cutting or abrading tools. Since the toolsmay have shanks of varying diameter or may have a polygonal crosssection, the device is usually provided with a chuck that is adjustableover a relatively wide range. The chuck may be attached to the driver bya threaded or tapered bore.

A wide variety of chucks have been developed in the art. In one form ofchuck, three jaws spaced circumferentially approximately 120° apart fromeach other are constrained by angularly disposed passageways in a bodyattached to the drive shaft. The chuck is configured so that rotation ofthe body in one direction with respect to a constrained nut forces thejaws into or away from the gripping relationship with a tool shank. Sucha chuck may be keyless if it can be tightened or loosened by manualrotation. Examples of such chucks are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos.5,125,673 and 5,193,824, commonly assigned to the present assignee andthe entire disclosures of which are incorporated by reference herein.Various configurations of keyless chucks are known in the art and aredesirable for variety of applications.

Various quick change chuck devices are known in the art. One exemplarysuch device includes a body with a central bore that receives a bithaving a polygonal cross-section. The body includes a groove extendingtransversely across the body and opening into the axial bore. The bitincludes an annular groove at its rear end. A wire is disposed in thebody groove so that when the bit is pushed into the bore, the bit pushesthe wire radially outward. The wire is, however, biased radially inward.Thus, when the groove at the bit's rear end aligns with the wire, thewire moves into the bit groove to positively retain the bit in the chuckbore.

The chuck body includes a stem portion extending from its rear. The stemmay be received in the bore of a three-jawed oblique chuck as describedabove so that the quick-change chuck is secured to the drill by thethree-jawed chuck. Another quick-change device is disclosed in U.S. Pat.No. 5,947,484, the disclosure of which is incorporated by referenceherein.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention recognizes and addresses the foregoingconsiderations, and others, of prior art constructions and methods.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide animproved chuck.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A full and enabling disclosure of the present invention, including thebest mode thereof, to one of ordinary skill in the art, is set forthmore particularly in the remainder of the specification, includingreference to the accompanying figures, in which:

FIG. 1 is front plan view, partly in section, of a chuck in accordancewith an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the chuck as in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a partial sectional view of a chuck in accordance with anembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a partial sectional view of a chuck in accordance with anembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a partial perspective view of a jaw for use in a chuck inaccordance with an embodiment of the present invention engaging a bit;

FIG. 6 is a partial sectional view of a chuck in accordance with anembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a plan view, in section, of a chuck in accordance with anembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a partial sectional view of the chuck as in FIG. 7; and

FIG. 9 is a partial sectional view of a chuck in accordance with anembodiment of the present invention.

Repeat use of reference characters in the present specification anddrawings is intended to represent same or analogous features or elementsof the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Reference will now be made in detail to presently preferred embodimentsof the invention, one or more examples of which are illustrated in theaccompanying drawings. Each example is provided by way of explanation ofthe invention, not limitation of the invention. In fact, it will beapparent to those skilled in the art that modifications and variationscan be made in the present invention without departing from the scope orspirit thereof. For instance, features illustrated or described as partof one embodiment may be used on another embodiment to yield a stillfurther embodiment. Thus, it is intended that the present inventioncover such modifications and variations as come within the scope of theappended claims and their equivalents.

Referring generally to FIGS. 1 and 2, a chuck 10 in accordance with thepresent invention has a central longitudinal axis depicted by the dashedline designated at 12. Chuck 10 includes a front sleeve 14, a rearsleeve 16, and a plurality of jaws 18. A body 20 is generallycylindrical in shape and comprises a nose or forward section 22 and atail or rearward section 24. An axial bore 26 is formed in the nosesection and is somewhat larger than the largest tool shank that thechuck is designed to accommodate. As should be understood in this art,body 20 may be formed from steel bar stock or any other suitablematerial.

Body 20 defines a threaded bore 28 in its tail section. Bore 28 is of astandard size to mate with the drive shaft of a powered or hand driver(not shown). While a threaded bore 28 is illustrated, such bore could bereplaced with a tapered bore of a standard size to mate with a tapereddrive shaft. The bores 26 and 28 may communicate at a central region ofbody 20. The central region may be formed with a socket to accept adrive bit so that the body may be screwed onto to the spindle by thebit.

Body 20 also defines three passageways 32 to respectively accommodatethe three jaws 18. In a three-jaw configuration, each passageway, andtherefore each jaw, is separated from each adjacent passageway by an arcof approximately 120°. The longitudinal axes of passageways 32 and jaws18 are angled with respect to the chuck's longitudinal axis 12 butintersect the chuck axis at a common point ahead of chuck body 20. Eachjaw has a tool engaging face 34 that is generally parallel to axis 12.

Body 20 includes a thrust ring member 36, which in a preferredembodiment forms an integral part of the body. Although not presentlypreferred, the thrust ring may be a separate component from the body'smain portion. A ledge 40 extending forward from thrust ring 36 receivesa bearing assembly 42. The bearing assembly includes a bearing cage 44enclosing bearing balls 46 that forwardly bear, with respect to chuckbody 20, on a forward washer 48 and rearwardly bear on a rearward washer50. Rearward race 50 abuts a shoulder surface 52 formed between theraised and ledge portions of thrust ring 36. Forward race 48 bears in anaxially forward direction against a spring washer 122 that in turn bearsagainst a shoulder 54 of sleeve 14. Bearing assembly 42 may comprise anysuitable construction, for example a bearing assembly of the typedescribed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,348,318, incorporated by reference herein.

Tail section 24 of body 20 can include a rear cylindrical portion havinga knurled surface 56 thereon for receipt of rear sleeve 16. The rearsleeve may be pressed onto the knurled surface, or could be retained inplace by press fit without knurling or by use of a key.

At the front end of the chuck, nose section 22 is beveled and is adaptedto receive a nose piece 57 for restraining front sleeve 14 from forwardaxial movement with respect to the chuck body. Alternatively, a snapring or other suitable mechanism may be used to axially restrain thesleeve. Nose piece 57 may be pressed onto nose section 22 or attached inany other suitable manner. Rearward axial movement of the sleeve on thebody is prevented by thrust ring 36 through bearing assembly 42.

The outer circumferential surface of sleeve 14 may be knurled or may beprovided with longitudinal ribs or other protrusions to enable theoperator to grip it securely. The front and rear sleeves may befabricated from a structural plastic such as polycarbonate, a filledpolypropylene, for example glass filled polypropylene, or a blend ofstructural plastic materials. Other composite materials such as, forexample, graphite filled polymerics could also be suitable in certainenvironments. Further, either sleeve may be constructed from suitablemetals, such as steel. Moreover, as would be appreciated by one skilledin the art, the materials from which the chuck of the present inventionis fabricated will depend on the end use of the chuck, and the above areprovided by way of example only.

An interior surface 59 of sleeve 14 defines female threads 58. Thethreads are a modified square thread formation in an eight pitchconfiguration along the length of sleeve 14. It should be understood,however, that any suitable thread shape or formation may be employed,for example including a modified buttress thread. In one preferredembodiment, the squared interface between the outer surface and the backside of thread 58 is replaced by a curved surface.

A driving disk 60 includes a male thread 62 extending about an outercircumferential surface 64. Thread 62 has the same pitch as thread 58 sothat when thread 62 is received by thread 58, relative rotation betweensleeve 14 and driving disk 60 moves the driving disk axially within thesleeve. In particular where the driving disk is molded, thread 62 mayhave sloped sides, for example at an approximately 5° slope, extendingfrom surface 64 to the thread's outer diameter.

Driving disk 60 includes three equiangularly spaced apart radial slots106 extending entirely radially through the disk. Slots 106 arecylindrical in shape and may be formed by boring radially inward intothe driving disk outer surface with a suitable boring tool. Jaw endsections 68 are formed in a cooperating semi-circular shape so that theslots 106 slideably receive the respective jaws. The slots allow the jawends to move radially as the driving disk moves the jaws between openand closed positions. A dry lubricant coating may be provided on the jawends and/or slots 106 to facilitate this movement. The cooperationbetween the jaw ends and slots 106 maintains the jaws at the properangle with respect to the driving disk so that the jaws are maintainedin alignment in the jaw passageways in the assembled chuck.

Rotation of sleeve 14 clockwise, when viewed from nose section 22, movesdriving disk 60 axially forward with respect to the chuck axis, therebymoving jaws 18 to a closed position. Conversely, counter-clockwiserotation of the front sleeve moves the jaws in an opening direction. Astop 92 is provided at the rear edge of thread 58. When the jaws reach afully open position, a rear edge 94 of thread 62 abuts stop 92. Thisprevents further rotation of the sleeve with respect to the drivingdisk. A similar stop (not shown) is provided at the front end of thread58 to stop a forward edge 98 of thread 62 to prevent the jaws frombinding in the fully closed position when there is no tool in the chuckbore.

Thread 62 defines one turn that extends slightly less than 360° aroundsurface 64 of driving disk 60. A gap 100 between edges 94 and 98 has anangular width greater than the width of stop 92. This facilitates thechuck's assembly in that the driving disk may be placed directly downonto thread 58 over the stop. Rear sleeve 16 prevents the driving diskfrom disengaging from the sleeve when the chuck is in a fully openposition in which rear thread edge 94 abuts stop 92.

Bearing assembly 42 may comprise any suitable construction. FIG. 2, forexample, illustrates two bearing configurations 42 a and 42 b. In theembodiment indicated at 42 a, the washer that forms bearing race 48includes radially aligned recesses 114 in the washer's rearward face sothat each of bearing balls 46 are received in a respective recess 114.

As it is rotated, sleeve 14 exerts a relative rotational force betweenraces 48 and 50. Normally, washer 48 carries balls 46 so that cage 44rotates with washer 48. Before the jaws close onto the tool, however,there is relatively little rearward axial force against washer 50. Thus,balls 46 slide against the washer, which remains in position against thechuck body. Where the frictional force between balls 46 and washer 50 isgreater than that between sleeve 14 and washer 48 through spring 122,the entire bearing assembly remains rotationally held to the body as thesleeve rotates.

When the jaws close onto a tool shank, driving disk 60 exerts rearwardaxial force against sleeve 14, which in turns translates this force tothe body through spring 122 and bearing 42 a. At this point, theincreased frictional force between balls 46 and race 50 causes the ballsto rotate against the washer, which is rotational held by friction tothrust ring 36. Since sleeve 14 rotationally drives washer 48 byfriction through spring washer 122, this causes balls 46 to roll out oftheir recesses 114 into the next recess. Continued rotation of sleeve 14continues movement of the balls through successive recesses, causing aclicking sound that notifies the operator that the chuck is approachinga fully tightened position.

In another embodiment, bearing 42 b includes a first race 48 havingrecesses 114 defined about the radially outward edge of its rearwardface. Opposite race 50 includes a shroud 116 extending axially forwardtherefrom. The shroud defines a plurality of spring arms 118 biasedaxially forward toward washer 48 so that tabs 120 defined at the distalends of arms 118 engage respective recesses 114. Thus, as sleeve 14 isrotated to a closed position, races 48 and 50 are rotationally linked toeach other and rotate either with sleeve 14 or chuck body 20, dependingon whether the sleeve or the body exerts the greater frictional force onthe bearing assembly. As should be understood by those skilled in theart, this depends on the dimensions of the components and the materialsfrom which they are made. When the chuck jaws tighten onto a tool shank,however, frictional forces between washer 48 and sleeve 14 throughspring washer 122, and between washer 50 and thrust ring 36, overcomethe link between washer 48 and 50. Further rotation of sleeve 14therefore rotates washer 48 with respect to washer 50, overcoming thebiasing force of spring arms 118. Thus, the arms are deflected so thateach tab 120 moves out of its recess 114 into the next recess. Continuedrotation of sleeve 14 moves tabs 120 in and out of successive recesses,creating a clicking sound notifying the user that the chuck isapproaching a fully closed position.

Upon opening the chuck, having either bearing 42 a or 42 b, from a fullyclosed position, washers 48 and 50 initially rotate with respect to eachother, again creating the clicking sound. As soon as the jaws releasefrom the tool shank, however, the bearing assembly operates as describedabove prior to the fully closed position.

Driving disk 60 includes a blind bore 124 that extends radially inwardfrom the driving disk's outer surface 64. A spring 126 biases a detentball 128 radially outward from bore 124. As sleeve 14 rotates about thedriving disk, ball 128 rides on lands 130 between the grooves of thread58. A depression 132 is formed in the lands so that ball 128 moves intothe depression when the jaws' tool engaging surfaces 34 define apredefined diameter. The diameter is slightly less than the cross widthof the a tool, preferably a multi-sided tool, which the chuck is toreceive. In one preferred embodiment, for example, the diameter isslightly less than one-quarter inch. Ball 128 makes a clicking soundwhen entering depression 132 and slightly inhibits rotation of sleeve14. This notifies the user that the jaws are in the predeterminedposition to receive the tool shank.

When the jaws are in the predetermined position, as located by thedetent comprised of ball 128 and depression 132, a multi-sided bit 134that is pushed into bore 26 against tool engaging surfaces 34 of jaws 18pushes the jaws radially outward. This forces the jaws axially rearwardin jaw passageways 32, thereby pushing driving disk 60 and sleeve 14axially rearward on body 20 against the force of spring washer 122. Whenthe bit is fully inserted into bore 26, spring 122 applies a forwardbias to the jaws through sleeve 14 and driving disk 60 to retain thetool in the bore. The tool's flat sides 125, and their interfaces 127,generally prevent the tool's rotation within the bore.

It should be understood that various other locating mechanisms may beemployed within the present invention. For example, referring to theembodiment shown partially in FIG. 3, bore 124 opens radially inwardfrom driving disk 60. Depression 132 is located at a predeterminedposition in body tail section 24.

In a still further embodiment, and referring to FIG. 4, bore 124 islocated in sleeve 14 and opens radially inward to a groove of thread 58.Spring 126 biases a detent ball or pin 133 into the thread atpredetermined position on the thread so that driving disk thread 62(FIG. 2) engages pin 133 at the point where tool engaging jaw surfaces34 (FIG. 2) define the predetermined diameter. Further rotation ofsleeve 14 pushes pin 133 up into bore 124.

To release the bit in any of these embodiments, an operator pulls sleeve14 axially rearward against the force of spring 122. This pulls drivingdisk 60, and therefore jaws 18, axially rearward, thereby releasing thebit.

Referring again to FIGS. 1 and 2, the chuck includes a positive lockingmechanism to retain bit 134. For example, each jaw 18 may define a blindbore 136 extending radially inward from its tool engaging surface 34. Aspring 138 biases a detent ball 140 radially inward. The mouth of bore136 may be peened about its edge to create a lip that retains ball 140in the bore. As bit 134 moves into bore 26, the bit's rear edge pushesball 140 back into bore 136. As a groove 142 at the rear end of bit 134reaches the bore, however, spring 138 pushes ball 140 into the groove,thereby positively retaining bit 134 axially in bore 26. To remove thebit, an operator pulls the bit axially forward so that the rear end ofbit 134 pushes ball 140 back into bore 136.

In another preferred embodiment, and referring to FIG. 5, a forwardportion of the tool engaging surface 34 of each jaw 18 may be ground sothat the tool engaging surface extends forward from a rear heel 144defined at the rearward edge of the jaw face. The ground forward portiondefines the predetermined diameter. As bit 134 is pushed into bore 26,the bit pushes jaws 18 radially outward so that the bit slides axiallyrearward along the jaw face. When groove 142 aligns with heel 144, theheel moves into the groove to positively retain the bit.

In a still further embodiment illustrated in FIG. 6, a bore 146 isdefined through thrust ring 36. A spring 148 extends between a detentball 150 and a biasing ball 152. Normally, biasing ball 152 is pushedradially inward by a tapered surface 154 of an annular ring 156 attachedto the inner surface of sleeve 14. As bit 134 is inserted into bore 26,the bit pushes ball 150 back into bore 146 until groove 142 aligns withthe bore. At this point, ball 150 moves into groove 142 to positivelyretain the bit. As an operator pulls sleeve 14 rearward against spring122, ring 156 also moves rearward, allowing ball 152 to ride radiallyoutward against tapered surface 154. This partially relieves thepressure against ball 150, allowing the operator to more easily removebit 134 from bore 26.

Accordingly, an operator may secure a tool, for example a bit having acircular cross-section, in chuck 10 by rotation of sleeve 14 to clampjaws 18 onto the tool shank. Alternatively, the operator may rotate thesleeve until it reaches the predetermined position as indicated by thelocator mechanism and thereafter insert and extract tools of apredetermined size against the biasing force provided by spring 122.This mode of operation is particularly suited to tool shanks having apolygonal cross-section. Thus, the chuck may be operated in asleeve-tightening manner or in a quick-change manner.

Furthermore, it should be understood that the present invention may beemployed in conjunction with various chuck configurations. For example,referring to FIGS. 7 and 8, chuck 10 includes a body 20, a nut 158, anosepiece 57 and a plurality of jaws 18. Body 20 is generallycylindrical in shape and comprises a nose or forward section 22 and atail or rearward section 24. The nose section defines an axial bore 26that is somewhat larger than the largest tool shank that the chuck isdesigned to accommodate. A threaded bore 28 is formed in tail section 24and is of a standard size to mate with the drive shaft of a powered orhand driver (not shown). The bores 26 and 28 may communicate at acentral region of body 20. While a threaded bore 28 is illustrated, suchbore could be replaced with a tapered bore of a standard size to matewith a tapered driveshaft.

Body 20 defines three passageways 32 to accommodate the three jaws 18.Each jaw is separated from the adjacent jaw by an arc of approximately120°. The axes of passageways 32 and jaws 18 are angled with respect tothe chuck center axis such that each passageway axis travels throughaxial bore 26 and intersects the chuck axis at a common point ahead ofthe chuck body. The jaws form a grip that moves radially toward and awayfrom the chuck axes to grip a tool, and each jaw 18 has a tool engagingface generally parallel to the chuck body axis. Threads 160, formed oneach jaw's opposite or outer surface, may be constructed in any suitabletype and pitch.

Body 20 includes a thrust ring 36 that includes a plurality of jawguideways 162 formed around its circumference to permit retraction ofthe jaws therethrough and also includes a ledge portion to receive abearing assembly 42.

Body tail section 24 includes a knurled surface that receives anoptional rear sleeve 16 in a press fit. It should be understood,however, that the chuck, as well as the chucks described above, may beconstructed with a single sleeve having no rear sleeve.

Chuck 10 includes a driving disk formed as a one piece nut 158 havingthreads 164 for mating with jaw threads 162. Nut 158 is positioned aboutthe body in engagement with the jaw threads so that when the nut isrotated with respect to body 20, the jaws will be advanced or retracteddepending on the nut's rotational direction.

The nut's forward axial face includes a plurality of recesses thatreceive corresponding drive dogs extending from the inner surface offront sleeve 14. Accordingly, sleeve 14 rotationally drives nut 158.Nosepiece 57 retains sleeve 14 against forward axial movement. Nosepiece57 may be coated with a non-ferrous metallic coding to prevent rust andto enhance its appearance.

The outer circumferential surface of front sleeve 14 may be knurled ormay be provided with longitudinal ribs or other protrusions to enablethe operator to grip it securely. In like manner, the circumferentialsurface of rear sleeve 16, if employed, may be knurled or ribbed ifdesired.

A retainer 166 press fit to body 20 retains nut 158 in the axiallyforward direction. Retainer 166 includes a frustoconical section 168that facilitates movement of jaws 18.

In operation, an operator may close the chuck onto a tool shank byrotation of sleeve 14 so that jaws 18 move in passageways 32 to closeupon the tool. Rotation of the sleeve in the opposite direction retractsthe jaws from the tool, allowing the tool's removal from bore 26.Alternatively, the sleeve may be rotated so that the jaws are moved backto their fully retracted position as shown in FIG. 7, and a bit 134 maybe retained in bore 26 by a quick-change mechanism including a spring170 and detent ball 172 located within a bore 174 extending radiallythrough body 20. Spring 170 extends between retainer 166 and ball 172 sothat the spring biases the ball radially inward toward bore 26. Ball 172is retained in bore 174 by a lip at the radially inward mouth of bore174 that is formed, for example, in the drilling process or by peeningthe bore mouth. The diameter of the lip is such that a portion of ball172 extends into bore 26 when spring 170 pushes the ball against thelip.

As an operator inserts bit 134 into bore 26, the bit's rear end pushesball 172 back into bore 174 until an annular groove 142 at the bit'srear end aligns with the bore. At this point, spring 170 pushes ball 172into groove 142 to positively retain bit 134 in the axial direction. Inthe fully open position, tool engaging surfaces 34 of jaws 18 define apredetermined diameter approximately equal to the width of bit 134.Thus, tool engaging surfaces 34 engage flat sides 176 of bit 134,thereby preventing its rotation.

In a still further embodiment illustrated in FIG. 9, one or more springwashers 122 are disposed between nosepiece 57 and front sleeve 14 sothat the sleeve is axially reciprocal with respect to the body. The nutrecesses and corresponding sleeve drive dogs permit the sleeve to movewith respect to the nut as well. Bore 174 receives a detent ball 172 anda pin 178 that extends radially outward from bore 174 through a hole inretainer 166 so that an end of pin 178 abuts the inner surface of sleeve14.

In the normal position of sleeve 14 shown in FIG. 9, the distal end ofpin 178 abuts sleeve 14 at the radially inward edge of a tapered surface180 so that the pin forces ball 172 into chuck bore 26. To insert a bit134 (FIG. 7), an operator pushes sleeve 14 axially forward against theforce of springs 122 so that tapered surface 180 aligns with the distalend of pin 178. As the operator then pushes the bit into bore 26, thebit's rear end pushes ball 172 back into bore 174 so that the distal endof pin 178 rides up tapered surface 180. When the bit is received inbore 26 such that the bit's annular groove 142 (FIG. 7) is aligned withbore 174, the operator releases sleeve 14. Springs 122 push the sleeveback to its position shown in FIG. 9 so that tapered surface 180 pushespin 178 radially inward through bore 174 so that bit annular groove 142(FIG. 7) receives ball 172 to axially retain the bit in bore 26.

While one or more preferred embodiments of the invention have beendescribed above, it should be understood that any and all equivalentrealizations of the present invention are included within the scope andspirit thereof. The embodiments depicted are presented by way of exampleonly and are not intended as limitations upon the present invention.Thus, it should be understood by those of ordinary skill in this artthat the present invention is not limited to these embodiments sincemodifications can be made. Therefore, it is contemplated that any andall such embodiments are included in the present invention as may fallwithin the scope and spirit thereof.

1. A chuck for use with a manual or powered driver having a rotatabledrive shaft and an elongated tool shaft having a polygonal cross sectionand defining a circumferential groove, said chuck comprising: a. agenerally cylindrical body having a nose section and a tail section,said tail section being rotatable with said drive shaft of said driverand said nose section having a central bore formed therein; b. aplurality of jaws mounted in said body in communication with said axialbore; c. a nut coupled to said plurality of jaws; d. a first sleeverotatably received on said body and in operative engagement with saidnut so that when said first sleeve is rotated with respect to said bodysaid plurality of jaws move axially with respect to said body; e. afirst detent located in one of said body and at least one of said jaws,said first detent extending radially into said bore and being radiallyreleasable in a outward direction relative to said central bore, whereinwhen said chuck is in a first state the tool shaft may be inserted intosaid central bore so that said detent releasably engages the grooveformed in the tool shank; f. a bearing assembly positioned between saidbody and one of said nut and said sleeve, said bearing assemblycomprising, (i) a first washer having a plurality of recesses formedtherein, (ii) a second washer, and (iii) a plurality of balls positionedintermediate therebetween, wherein when said chuck is in a second state,said first washer rotates with respect to said second washer causing anaudible click.
 2. The chuck as in claim 1, wherein said body nosesection includes a plurality of angularly disposed passageways formedtherethrough and intersecting said central bore, and wherein each saidpassageway slidably receives a respective one of said plurality of jaws.3. The chuck as in claim 1, further comprising a second detentoperatively disposed between said jaws and said body, and including acatch, said second detent and said catch being disposed with respect toeach other so that said second detent engages said catch when said chuckis in said first state.
 4. A chuck for use with a manual or powereddriver having a rotatable drive shaft and an elongated tool shaft havinga polygonal cross section and defining a circumferential groove, saidchuck comprising: a. a generally cylindrical body having a nose sectionand a tail section, said tail section being rotatable with said driveshaft of said driver and said nose section having a central bore formedtherein; b. a plurality of jaws mounted in said body in communicationwith said axial bore; c. a first sleeve rotatably received on said bodyand in operative engagement with said plurality of jaws so that whensaid first sleeve is rotated with respect to said body said plurality ofjaws move axially with respect to said body; d. a first detent locatedin one of said body and at least one of said jaws, said first detentextending radially into said bore and being radially releasable in aoutward direction relative to said central bore, wherein when said chuckis in a first state the tool shaft may be inserted into said centralbore so that said detent releasably engages the groove formed in thetool shank; e. a bearing assembly operatively positioned between saidbody and said plurality of jaws, said bearing assembly comprising, (i) afirst race having a plurality of recesses formed thereon, (ii) a secondrace, and (iii) a plurality of balls received between said first andsaid second race, wherein when said chuck is in a second state, saidfirst race rotates with respect to said second race causing an audibleclick.
 5. The chuck as in claim 4, wherein said second race furthercomprises at least one pawl that engages said plurality or recesses whensaid first race rotates with respect to said second race.
 6. The chuckas in claim 4, wherein said body nose section includes a plurality ofangularly disposed passageways formed therethrough and intersecting saidcentral bore, and wherein each said passageway slidably receives arespective one of said plurality of jaws.
 7. The chuck as in claim 4,wherein said first detent is defined in said body.
 8. The chuck as inclaim 7, wherein a. said body defines a bore extending radially intosaid body from said central bore, b. said radial bore defines arestricted opening at said central bore, c. said first detent includes afirst ball disposed in said radial bore and a spring disposed in saidradial bore so that said spring biases said first ball toward saidrestricted opening, and d. a diameter of said first ball is greater thana width of said restricted opening so that said first ball extendsradially into said central bore when said first ball engages saidrestricted opening.
 9. The chuck as in claim 8, wherein a. said radialbore extends through said body to an outer circumference of said body,b. said detent includes a second ball disposed in said radial bore sothat said spring is disposed between said first ball and said secondball, and c. said second ball extends radially outward of saidcircumferential surface and engages an inner circumferential surface ofsaid first sleeve.
 10. A chuck for use with a manual or powered driverhaving a rotatable drive shaft and an elongated tool shaft having apolygonal cross section and defining a circumferential groove, saidchuck comprising: a. a generally cylindrical body having a nose sectionand a tail section, said tail section being rotatable with said driveshaft of said driver and said nose section having a central bore formedtherein and a plurality of angularly disposed passageways formedtherethrough and intersecting said axial bore; b. a generallycylindrical sleeve disposed rotatably about said body; c. a plurality ofjaws slidably positioned in each of said angularly disposed passageways,each of said jaws having a jaw face formed on one side thereof; d. a nutdisposed about said body in axially driving engagement with saidplurality of jaws and rotatably with respect to one of said sleeve andsaid body so that relative rotation between said nut and said one ofsaid sleeve and said body axially drives said jaws in said passageways;e. a first detent extending radially into said bore, said first detentbeing releasable in a radially outward direction relative to axial bore;f. a second detent operatively disposed between said jaws and said body;g. a catch, said second detent and said catch being disposed withrespect to each other so that said second detent engages said catch whensaid jaws are at a predetermined position at which said jaws engage saidflat sides of said tool shaft when said tool shaft is inserted into saidcentral bore, and h. a bearing assembly operatively positioned betweensaid body and said plurality of jaws, said bearing assembly comprising,(i) a first race having a plurality of recesses formed thereon, (ii) asecond race, and (iii) a plurality of balls received between said firstand said second race, wherein when said chuck is in a first state, uponinsertion of said tool shaft into said bore so that said groove isaligned with said first detent, said first detent engages said grooveand axially retains said tool shaft and said jaws rotationally retainthe tool shaft with respect to said body, and when said chuck is in asecond state, said first race rotates with respect to said second racecausing an audible click.
 11. The chuck as in claim 10, wherein said nutincludes a driving disk slidably disposed on said body and having anexternal screw thread, and wherein said sleeve defines an internal screwthread that meshes with said external screw thread whereby when saidsleeve is rotated with respect to said body, said jaws are movedthereby.
 12. The chuck as in claim 10, wherein each of said jaws definethreads thereon and wherein said nut defines threads that engage saidthreads of said jaws so that rotation of said nut moves said jawsaxially in said passageways.